Thermal cut-out for electric conductors.



| NoE 807,270. PATENTBD DEGc 12, 1905. r' B. D. BURTON.

THERMAL GUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

APPLIOATlON FILED MARIS, 1905.

WITNESS/115' IW/EWTOR 777W y @Lz/JM $7, @f

ma .vliorfaeya :UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRYSON DEXTER HORTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HORTON-MOREHOUSE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 13, 1905. Serial No. 249,698.

To all whom t muy concern:

Be it known that I, BRYsoN DEXTER HOR- roN, acitizen of the United States, residingat Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thermal Cut-Outs for Electric Conductors; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to thermal cut-outs for electric conductors.

It has for its object an improved indicating device used in connection with such cutouts and an improved formation of the fusewire used in connection with such cut-outs.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing the interior construction and arrangement of the cut-out. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the fuse and a sectional View of the plug in which the fuse is inserted for mounting in a wall. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the fuse with its porcelain base and metallic mountings when it is desired to mount the cut-out in a more conspicuous position or away from the surface of a wall. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the conical helix.

The cut-out is constructed with a casing 1, of non-conducting material, provided with caps 2 and 3. To one end is secured by soldering or some similar electrical connection the end 4L of the conductor, which projects inward toward a similar conductor 4, that is secured to the cap 3. The two conductor-terminals 4 and 4 are joined by a fuse-wire 5, that is provided with a sharply-bent part or S-shaped part with bends 5 5b near its middle. Through the cap 3 are pierced two holes 31 and 32, and through these holes are drawn the ends of a loop of wire 6, the bight of which engages around one of the turns 5" at the middle point of the fuse-wire. The two ends 61 and 62 of the wire 6 are secured by soldering or in some other equally secure way to a plate 7, which preferably is provided with a bearing at its middle point against the end of the cap and the end of the terminal 4a, which is secured to the cap and is provided outside the bearing-surface with a flange 7l, between which and the cap is compressed a small conical helix 8 of spring metal. The compression of the spring is due to the strain of the wire 6, which is drawn toward the cap 2 at the time the parts are assembled, and the spring is held under compression after the parts are assem-` vinto the S shape, in which the middle bar from 5a to 5b lies between those parts of the conductor which leads from the one end to 5 and from the other end to 5b, causes the fuse to heat most highly at this middle point and causes the fuse to melt and be destroyed at this part rather than at any other part of the fusible part of the Wire.

The case is filled in the usual Way with some absorbent powder.

When it is desired to surround the plug with, for example, the plaster in a wall, the fuse and its case are inserted in the plug 9, which is inclosed in the screw-shell 13, (shown in Fig. 2,) which is an ordinary screw-plug provided with an opening or hole 10 through the porcelain casing 11, through which hole or into which hole the plate 7 can project when the spring is released. If, however, it is desired to use a porcelain mounting 18, which can be screwed to the surface of a wall, the entire cut-out part of the structure engages with electrical connection in a spring socket or jaw 12, which is itself in electrical connection with one of the ends of the conductorwires.

What I claim is- 1. In an electric cut-out, in combination with an inclosing casing, a fusible conductor running lengthwise thereof, the central portion thereof being more readily fusible than the end portions, a projectile plate at one end of the casing, means for projecting it therefrom along the line of the axis of the casing, and means connecting said plate and the most readily fusible portion of said conductor and normally holding said projecting means under tension, substantially as described.

2. In an electric cut-out, in combination with a casing of non-conducting material, a fusible conductor having `one portion more easily fusible than the adjacent portions running IOO lengthwise thereof, a projectile plate at one end of said casing, means for projecting; it from the end of said casing, and means connecting said easily-fusible portion of the conductor and said projectile plate and normally compressing said projecting means, substantially as described.

3. In an electric cn t-out, in combination with acasing, a fusible connector curved at its middle part With the parts of the fuse forming the curved portion lying in close proximity, and a spring connected to and normally held Linder tension by said curved portion and arranged to be relieved therefrom by the breaking thereof, substantially as described.

4. In an electrical cut-out, in combination spring` in a state of tension while the fuse rcj mains in an uninjured condition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

BRYSON DEXTER HORTON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAH M. SWAN, MAY E. Kom?. 

